Method and apparatus for the application of caps to bottles or the like

ABSTRACT

Plastic caps of the type having a cupped central portion, an annular marginal portion and a lifting tab extending downwardly and outwardly from the marginal portion are applied to the open tops of bottles which travel along a circular path by means of attachments which can be secured to the capping units of a conventional bottle capping machine. Each attachment has a twopiece ram which is moved downwardly by the respective capping unit while the latter tracks a fixed cam whereby the ring-shaped outer part of each ram depresses the marginal portion of a cap during a first stage of each revolution of the associated capping unit so that the marginal portion remains spaced from the open top of the bottle and that the space between the marginal portion and the top can be cleaned to expel liquid particles and/or foam. In the next stage of each revolution, the outer part of the ram moves the marginal portion into abutment with the open top and the plunger-like inner part of the ram simultaneously engages and forces the central portion of the cap into the open top of the aligned bottle.

United States Patent 1 91 Knabe et al. 1 Jan. 23,1973

[5 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE 2,154,172 4/1939 Lathrop ..53/313 x APPLICATION OF CAPS o BOTTLES 2,353,200 7/1944 Sundell ..53/313 x I OR THE LIKE 2,821,823 2/1958 Wahl ..53/316 x [75] Inventors: Uwe Knabe, 46 Dortmund-Homprimary Examiner Tl-avis Mcgehee brush; Am Gust, 46 Dortmund- Attorney-Michael s. Striker Solde; Alois Hinxlage, 46 Dortmund, all of Germany 57] ABSTRACT [73] Assign: nllsfein Kappa", Maschinen' Plastic caps of the type having a cupped central porfalmk Phomx GmbH Dortmund tion, an annular marginal portion and a lifting tab ex- Germany tending downwardly and outwardly from the marginal 22 Filed; July 20 1970 portion are applied to the open tops of bottles which travel along a circular path by means of attachments [211 App]. No.: 56,416 which can be secured to the capping units of -a conventional bottle capping machine. Each attachment 30 Foreign Application priority Data has a two-piece ram which is moved downwardly by the respective capping unit while the latter tracks a July 19, 1969 Germany ..P 19 36 795.4 fixed cam whereby the rinksha-ped outer part of each ram depresses the marginal portion of a ca'p during a [52] US. Cl. ..53/43, 53/314, 53/319, first stage of each revohnion of the associated capping 5 3/ 328 unit so that the marginal portion remains spaced from [5 Cl. u: "B65b th p p f th b ttl d th Space b t [58] Field of Search ..53/43, 313, 316, 319, 323, the marginal portion and the top can be cleaned to 53/328 expel liquid particles and/or foam. 1n the next stage of each revolution, the outer part of the ram moves the [56] References C'ted marginal portion into abutment with the open top and UNITED STATES PATENTS the plunger-like inner part of the ram simultaneously engages and forces the central portion of the cap into 3,471,992 10/1969 Amberg et al. ..53/43 X the open top of the aligned bottle. 3,040,494 6/1962 Anderson ..53/313 X 1,927,212 9/1933 Hawkins ..53/321 X 13 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE APPLICATION OF CAPS TO BOTTLES OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the application of closures or caps to bottles or other types of containers. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in a method and apl paratus for the application of plastic caps to bottles or the like, especially of plastic caps wherein the central portion of the cap forms a cup which is introduced into the mouth of a bottle and has a marginal flange which overlies the top face of the bottle. The flange can be provided with a projection or tab which facilitates removal of the cap.

Presently known bottle capping apparatus which are used for the application of conventional caps, for example, of caps having a flat central portion which overlies the mouth of a bottle and has a corrugated flange which is to be deformed around the external surface of the bead at the open end of the bottle, cannot be used for the application of plastic caps which are to be introduced into the mouth of a bottle. This is due mainly to the fact that, in many instances, a plastic cap which is to penetrate into the mouth of a bottle is readily deformable and must be properly supported in the course of the entire sealing action. Thus, it is not sufficient to exert pressure on the flange; the cupped central portion of the plastic cap must also be supported from the outside to prevent undue deformation during penetration into the mouth of a bottle. Moreover, presently known automatic bottle capping apparatus do not permit removal of excess liquid and/or foam which escapes from the bottle in response to insertion of the central portion of a plastic cap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of applying plastic caps to bottles or analogous containers in such a way that the caps are protected against undue deformation, that the caps invariably seal the tops of containers, and that the caps permit convenient removal of excess fluid or other matter prior to completion of the sealing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved bottle capping apparatus which can be utilized for carrying out the above method.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which can be utilized for the application of conventional caps as well as for the application of caps, particularly plastic caps, which must penetrate into the interior ofa bottle in order to insure satisfactory sealing action along the internal surface of the mouth.

An additional object of the invention is to provide novel attachments which can be used with conventional bottle capping apparatus to permit the application of plastic caps.

One feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a method of applying to the open tops of bottles or like containers caps of the type having a cupped central portion which is to enter the mouth of a container and an annular marginal portion which is to abut against the open top of the container. The method comprises the steps of advancing a succession of containers in upright positions along a predetermined path,

placing caps into register with the open tops of successive containers which advance along the path, applying to the thus placed caps a first downward pressure to move their marginal portions closer to the open tops of the respective containers, and thereupon applying against the caps a second downward pressure which acts against their central and marginal portions and suffices to effect such penetration of the central portions into the tops of the containers that the marginal portions abut against the respective tops.

The path for the containers is preferably a circular path or includes an arcuate portion, and the step of placing the caps into register with the tops of successive containers preferably comprises feeding a succession of caps along a second path which is tangential to the arcuate portion of the path for the containers so that the caps move downwardly to a level where they are automatically entrained by successive containers.

The caps are preferably of the type having lifting tabs which extend downwardly and outwardly from the respective marginal portions, and the method preferably comprises the additional step of maintaining each cap which travels along the second path in a predetermined orientation so that the tabs of the caps which reach the path for the containers extend into the paths of movement of and are entrained by the open tops of successive containers.

One of the purposes of the two-stage application of caps is to permit removal of impurities or other foreign 1 matter, particularly liquid and/or foam, which are located between the open tops of containers and the marginal portions of the partially applied caps. Such impurities can be removed in a step which precedes the application of the second or final downward pressure.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved bottle capping apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a bottle capping apparatus which embodies the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the apparatus, further showing a conveyor for bottles and a feeding device for plastic caps.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIG. 2, there is shown a'portion of a bottle capping apparatus 23 wherein several equidistant capping units CU (only two shown) travel along a circular path below a fixed ring-shaped cam 31. The circular path for the capping units CU is concentric with and is located above a second circular path defined by a conveyor 32 which transports bottles 33 (or other containers having open tops) in upright positions and in such a way that each bottle 33 is in register with one of the capping units. The conveyor 32 receives bottles 33 from a second conveyor 34 which can form part of a bottle filling machine. A feeding device '30, here shown as comprising a downwardly inclined chute, extends tangentially of the conveyors 32, 34 and serves to place plastic closures or caps P into register with the open tops of successive bottles which enter the circular path below the conveyor for the capping units CU. Each cap P includes a cupped central portion 24 (FIG. 1) which is to enter the open top or mouth 25 of a bottle 33, an annular marginal portion 27 which is to abut against the upper surface 28 of the open top 25, and a lifting tab 3 which extends downwardly and outwardly from the marginal portion 27. The width of the chute 30 is such that the caps P which travel therein toward the transfer station between the conveyors 32, 34 are held in a predetermined orientation, namely, with the lifting tab 3 leading. When the foremost cap P in the chute 30 reaches the discharge end of its path, the tab 3 of such cap extends into the path of movement of the open tops 25 of successive bottles 33 whereby the open tops entrain the ad :pcent caps and move therewith into alignment with the capping units CU.

Referring now to FIG. 1, each capping unit CU comprises an upper section 1 and a separablelower section or attachment 2. The upper section 1 constitutes a separate capping unit which can be utilized for the application of convention caps, for example, for the application of caps of the type having a flat circular central portion which overlies the opening in the neck of a bottle and a corrugated marginal portion which engages the bead at the top of such opening. A feature of the present invention resides in that the lower sections 2 can be secured to the upper sections 1 of a conventional capping apparatus to form therewith capping units CU which are suited for the application of plastic caps P.

The upper sections 1 are mounted on a carrier or hearing 4which forms part of a conveyor for transport of capping units along the aforementioned circular path above the conveyor 32 for the bottles 33 and below the cam 31. Each lower section 2 is coupled to the respective upper section 1 by one or more bolts 5, pins or analogous fasteners. Each upper section 1 comprises a housing 6 for a relatively weak helical spring 7 and a stronger helical spring 8. The lowermost convolution of the spring 7 bears against a collar 9 provided on a motion transmitting ram 10 of the upper section 1. The spring 8 is effective when the ram 10 is employed for the application of conventional caps. This ram can be moved upwardly against the opposition of the spring 7 and to the extent determined by a fixedly mounted ring-shaped stop 11 in the housing 6.

Each lower section 2 has an apertured flange 12 which is secured to the carrier 4 by the aforementioned fasteners 5 and supports a housing 13 for helical springs V against the opposition of the spring 14. The axial bore 17 of the outer portion l6accommodates a reciprocable inner ram portion or plunger 18 which can move relative to the outer portion 16. The upper end of the plunger 18 is provided with a head 19 which abuts against the corresponding ram 10. The lowermost convolution of the spring 15 bears against a sleeve-like stop 20 which carries a diametral pin 22 passing through an elongated slot 21 of the plunger 18. The outer portion 16 is held against rotation on the housing 13.

The operation:

Each bottle '33 which begins to travel along the path defined by the conveyor 32 carries a plastic cap P which is placed onto its open top 25 by the chute 30. Such bottle registers with one of the capping units CU, i.e., its open top 25 is located below the composite ram 16, 18 of the lower section 2. The cupped central portion 24 of a properly placed cap P extends somewhat into the opening of the top 24 (this is not shown in FIG. 1 in order not to conceal the topmost part of the bottle 33). The lowermost part of each outer ram portion 16 is provided with a ring-shaped centering element 26 which can insure requisite alignment of the cap P with the bottle 33. As the bottle 33 (which is held in upright position) advances with the conveyor 32 and the conveyor (including the carrier 4) of the capping apparatus advances the capping unit CU in vertical alignment with stich bottle, the cam 31 causes the unit CU to descend slightly so that the outer portion 16 applies to the capP a first or initial pressure which is sufficient to move the marginal portion 27 nearer to the surface 28 of the open top. Thus, the surface 28 defines with the underside of the marginal portion 27 an annular space or gap which is wide enough to permit convenient expulsion of any foreign matter, particularlyclearance between the surface 28 and the underside of the marginal portion 27 can be effected by a sterilizing fluid which is discharged against the travelling bottle 33 by'one or more nozzles 36.

In the next stage of travel of the capping unit CU along the circular path, the cam 31 causes this unit to again move downwardly whereby the lower section 2 approaches the bottle 33 and the-internal surface 29 0f the outer ram portion 16 (whose ring-shaped centering element 26 abuts against the marginal portion27 of the cap) moves upwardly with reference to the housing 13 and engages the lower end face of the stop 20. The cam 31 continues to move the capping unit CU downwardly so that-the further upward movement of the outer portion 16 takes place against the joint opposition of the springs 14 and 15. Also, the lower end portion of the plunger 18 extends through and beyond the centering element 26 and enters the cavity or recess of the central portion 24 of the cap P. The outer portion 16 which rises with reference to the descending housing 13 pushes the stop 20 upwardly whereby the pin 22 travels in the slot 21 and comes to a halt'when it abuts against the surface bounding the topmost part of such slot. From there on, the parts l0, 16, 18, 20, 22 form a rigid assembly with the element 26 bearing against the marginal portion 27 and the tip of the plunger 18 engaging the upper surface of the central portion 24. It is to be recalled that the head 19 of the plunger l8 abuts against the ram 10 of the upper section 1. The final closing and sealing pressure is applied in response to a further descent of the capping unit CU whereby the bottle 33 holds the parts 16, 18 against downward movement so that the springs 7, 8 are stressed and furnish the force which is needed to insure satisfactory deforming and sealing action. The clearance between the stop 11 and the collar 9 of the ram 10 is desirable to compensate for eventual differences in the height of successively treated bottles 33. The intervals of time which are provided for the application of the first pressure during the first stage of the capping and of the second pressure during the next stage of capping can be varied by replacing the cam 31 with a different cam. The length of such intervals depends on the nature of the plastic material of the caps P and on the desired sealing action. As a rule, the application of the final pressure will last longer, especially if the caps P exhibit a tendency to reassume their original undeformed state. Such final pressure can but need not be applied in two or more steps.

if the apparatus is to be converted for the application of conventional caps, the lower sections 2 are removed (either individually or together) and the distance between the sections 2 and the conveyor 32 is adjusted to insure that the rams 10 can reach the open tops of bottles which travel along the circular path defined by the conveyor 32.

An advantage of the improved capping apparatus is that it can be used for the application of several types of caps and that the parts (sections 1) which are used for the application of conventional caps need not be appreciably altered in order to cooperate in the application of caps P. The operation of the feeding device (chute 30) is highly reliable so that each bottle 33 which leaves the conveyor 34 receives a cap P in an optimum orientation for attachment to and sealing engagement with the respective open top 25. It was found that such a simple feeding device is capable of supplying caps P at the rate and with the accuracy required in a modern automatic bottle capping apparatus. Many presently known apparatus employ complicated transfer devices which place plastic or other caps into registry with the mouths of bottles or analogous'containers.

The springs 14 are rather weak so as to prevent excessive penetration of central portions 24 of the caps during the initial stage of application, namely, during that stage which precedes the expulsion of foreign matter from the spaces between the surfaces 28 and the marginal portions 27. The springs 15 are stronger but are preferably designed and mounted in such a way that the second or final pressure rises gradually until it reaches the desired maximum value. Since the application of the final pressure takes place while the ram portions 16, 18 respectively engage the portions 27, 24 ofa cap P, such cap is held against any undesirable deformation.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of our contribution to the art and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

1. A method of applying to the open tops of bottles or like containers caps of the type having a cupped central portion which is to enter the open top of a container and a marginal portion which is to abut against the open top of the container. comprising the steps of advancing a succession of containers along a first path; advancing a succession of caps along a second path intersecting said first path and leading to a level where the successively fed caps are directly engaged and entrained by the successive containers with the open tops of the latter substantially aligned with said caps; applying to the caps aligned with the respective containers a first downward pressure to move their marginal portions nearer to the open tops of the respective containers; and subsequently applying to the caps a second downward pressure which acts against said central and marginal portions and which suffices to effect such penetration of the central portion into the tops of the respective containers that the marginal portions abut against the open tops.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of removing impurities, particularly liquid and/or foam, from the spaces between the open tops of containers and the marginal portions of the respective caps prior to the application of said second downward pressure.

3. Apparatus for applying the open tops of bottles or like containers caps of the type having a cupped central portion which is to enter the open end and an annular marginal portion which is to abut against the open top of the container, comprising first conveyor means for transporting containers in an upright position along a first circular path; a plurality of capping units each having a vertically movable ram; second conveyor means for moving said capping units along a second circular path which is concentric with and located above said first path so that each container moving along said first path is aligned with one of said capping units; feeding means for feeding caps in succession along a third path extending substantially tangential to said first path to a level of the open tops of the containers transported along said first path so that the caps are directly engaged and entrained by the open tops of the containers and so that each container moving along said first path beyond said third path carries a cap therewith; and cam means for moving the rams of successive capping units downwardly in a plurality of stages including a first stage during which a descending ram moves the marginal portion of the cap therebelow nearer to the respective open top so that the marginal portion and the open top define an annular space, and a second stage during which the ram effects such penetration of the central portion that the respective marginal portion abuts against the open top of the registering container.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein each of said rams abuts against the central and marginal portion of the cap therebelow during said second stage.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein each of said units comprises an upper section and a lower section, said rams forming part of said lower sections and each of said upper sections having motion transmitting means for moving said rams downwardly in response to travel along said cam means.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said motion transmitting means constitutes a second ram for application of second types of caps.

8. Apparatus-as defined in claim 7; wherein said' inner and outer portions are movable axially with reference to each other.

' 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein one portion of each of said first mentioned rams comprises stop means for limiting the extent of movement of the other portion with reference to the one portion.

10 Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein each of said lower sections further comprises resilient means said upper sections comprises carrier means separably supporting the respective lower section.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein eachof said lower sections comprises resilient means interposed between at least a portion of the respective ram and the corresponding motion transmitting means. I

13; Apparatu'sas defined in claim 3 for the applicatioh of caps having lifting tabs extending outwardly and downwardly from the respective marginal portions, wherein said feeding means is arranged to supply caps in such orientation that the tabs of successive caps extend into the path of movement of the tops of successive containers moving along said first path.

s v a a .e 

1. A method of applying to the open tops of bottles or like containers caps of the type having a cupped central portion which is to enter the open top of a container and a marginal portion which is to abut against the open top of the container, comprising the steps of advancing a succession of containers along a first path; advancing a succession of caps along a second path intersecting said first path and leading to a level where the successively fed caps are directly engaged and entrained by the successive containers with the open tops of the latter substantially aligned with said caps; applying to the caps aligned with the respective containers a first downward pressure to move their marginal portions nearer to the open tops of the respective containers; and subsequently applying to the caps a second downward pressure which acts against said central and marginal portions and which suffices to effect such penetration of the central portion into the tops of the respective containers that the marginal portions abut against the open tops.
 2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of removing impurities, particularly liquid and/or foam, from the spaces between the open tops of containers and the marginal portions of the respective caps prior to the application of said second downward pressure.
 3. Apparatus for applying the open tops of bottles or like containers caps of the type having a cupped central portion which is to enter the open end and an annular marginal portioN which is to abut against the open top of the container, comprising first conveyor means for transporting containers in an upright position along a first circular path; a plurality of capping units each having a vertically movable ram; second conveyor means for moving said capping units along a second circular path which is concentric with and located above said first path so that each container moving along said first path is aligned with one of said capping units; feeding means for feeding caps in succession along a third path extending substantially tangential to said first path to a level of the open tops of the containers transported along said first path so that the caps are directly engaged and entrained by the open tops of the containers and so that each container moving along said first path beyond said third path carries a cap therewith; and cam means for moving the rams of successive capping units downwardly in a plurality of stages including a first stage during which a descending ram moves the marginal portion of the cap therebelow nearer to the respective open top so that the marginal portion and the open top define an annular space, and a second stage during which the ram effects such penetration of the central portion that the respective marginal portion abuts against the open top of the registering container.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein each of said rams abuts against the central and marginal portion of the cap therebelow during said second stage.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein each of said units comprises an upper section and a lower section, said rams forming part of said lower sections and each of said upper sections having motion transmitting means for moving said rams downwardly in response to travel along said cam means.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said motion transmitting means constitutes a second ram for application of second types of caps.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein each of said first mentioned rams comprises a ring-shaped outer portion which engages the marginal portion of a cap therebelow during the first and second stages of downward movement of the respective ram and an inner portion which engages the central portion of the cam therebelow during said second stage of downward movement of the respective ram.
 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said inner and outer portions are movable axially with reference to each other.
 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein one portion of each of said first mentioned rams comprises stop means for limiting the extent of movement of the other portion with reference to the one portion.
 10. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein each of said lower sections further comprises resilient means opposing upward movements of the first and second portions of the respective rams.
 11. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein each of said upper sections comprises carrier means separably supporting the respective lower section.
 12. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein each of said lower sections comprises resilient means interposed between at least a portion of the respective ram and the corresponding motion transmitting means.
 13. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 for the application of caps having lifting tabs extending outwardly and downwardly from the respective marginal portions, wherein said feeding means is arranged to supply caps in such orientation that the tabs of successive caps extend into the path of movement of the tops of successive containers moving along said first path. 